Even Monkeys Wouldn't Use A Mac - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

04-01-2005, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Even monkeys wouldn't use a Mac
April 01 2005
by Will Sturgeon
Chances of a word perfect 'Hamlet'? Zero...

US academics have conducted research into the well-known phenomenon of 'Shakespeare's Monkeys' – which claims an infinite number of monkeys using an infinite number of typewriters would eventually write the complete works of the Bard – and have discovered it would not hold true if the primates were typing on an Apple Mac.

Scientists at the University of Utah conducted experiments using 20 primates over a three-month period and found that their subjects largely shunned the four Macs running OS X in favour of keyboards attached to four machines running Windows XP.

The closest thing to a Shakespearian line typed on the Macs was 'Ham', which the scientists recorded as three correct characters from the title of Hamlet, however, one machine running Windows XP recorded "It is the green-eyed m" – 22 correct characters from the text of tragedy Othello.

Dr Johan Klaas from the department of behavioural studies at the University of Utah, told silicon.com: "We were surprised by the results. The majority of the primates we used appeared to be far more comfortable using Windows."

"The correct character comparison of 22 to three suggests the primates were more than seven times more confident on Windows-based machines," he added.

Klaas told silicon.com that 124 keyboards were replaced during the 90-day experiment after they were damaged in various ways – from being beaten against the ground to being covered in faeces.

The primates' dislike of the Mac keyboard appeared even to manifest itself here too, with the destroyed keyboard count numbering 93 to 31 in favour of those attached to the Windows machines.

Klaas told silicon.com: "Whatever people say about infinite outcomes and infinite possibilities this research makes me think monkeys would never write the entire works of Shakespeare using a Mac."

"But," added Klaas, "they'd sure break a lot of keyboards trying."

The most commonly opened application was also on the Windows PCs with the primates appearing to develop a fondness for Outlook.

At last, science has stepped in to solve the PC vs Mac issue

http://hardware.silicon.com/desktops...9129163,00.htm

feelgood · 04-01-2005, 06:37 AM

Yes...but what about PC vs Linux?

I say...Linux wins

Klaas told silicon.com that 124 keyboards were replaced during the 90-day experiment after they were damaged in various ways – from being beaten against the ground to being covered in faeces.

Not surprising...how many people would love to do this at their office job?

Redlemon · 04-01-2005, 06:39 AM

What's the date on that article? Yeah, I thought so.

jonjon42 · 04-01-2005, 06:42 AM

bwahahaha

therefore...linux wins...because penguins use linux.

04-01-2005, 06:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
feelgood Free Mars! Location: I dunno, there's white people around me saying "eh" all the time	Yes...but what about PC vs Linux? I say...Linux wins Klaas told silicon.com that 124 keyboards were replaced during the 90-day experiment after they were damaged in various ways – from being beaten against the ground to being covered in faeces. Not surprising...how many people would love to do this at their office job? __________________ Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

04-01-2005, 06:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	What's the date on that article? Yeah, I thought so. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

04-01-2005, 06:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
jonjon42 Psycho Location: inside my own mind	bwahahaha therefore...linux wins...because penguins use linux. __________________ A damn dirty hippie without the dirty part....